Calibrachoa plant named ‘USCALI223-1’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘USCALI223-1’, characterized by its semi-upright to outwardly spreading growth habit; mounded plant habit; freely branching and flowering habit; relatively large light purple-colored flowers with dark purple-colored centers; good garden performance; and resistance to  Thielaviopsis .

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa sp.

Cultivar denomination: ‘USCALI223-1’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp. and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘USCALI223-1’.

The new Calibrachoa is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Hikone, Shiga, Japan. The objective of the breeding program is to create new heat-tolerant and disease-resistant Calibrachoa cultivars with densely mounding plant habit and numerous and attractive flowers.

The new Calibrachoa originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor on Apr. 16, 2003 in Hikone, Shiga, Japan of a proprietary seedling selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number CJ03-071, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary seedling selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number CJ03-087, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Calibrachoa was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Gensingen, Germany on Jun. 4, 2004.

Asexual reproduction of the new Calibrachoa by terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Gensingen, Germany since Jun. 5, 2004 has shown that the unique features of this new Calibrachoa are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar USCALI223-1 has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature, daylength and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘USCALI223-1’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘USCALI223-1’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa:

-   -   1. Semi-upright to outwardly spreading growth habit; mounded         plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Freely flowering habit.     -   4. Relatively large light purple-colored flowers with dark         purple-colored centers.     -   5. Good garden performance.     -   6. Resistant to Thielaviopsis.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more outwardly spreading         than and not as upright as plants of the female parent         selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and the female parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection         have pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more upright than and not         as creeping as plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and the male parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the male parent have         white-colored flowers with purple-colored centers.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the cultivar Sunbelkupi, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,287. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Gensingen, Germany, plants of the new Calibrachoa differed from plants of the cultivar Sunbelkupi in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa were more upright than and not         as creeping as plants of the cultivar Sunbelkupi.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa had larger flowers than plants         of the cultivar Sunbelkupi.     -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and the Sunbelkupi differed in         flower color as plants of the cultivar Sunbelkupi had red         purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can also be compared to plants of the cultivar Kakegawa S8, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,508. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Gensingen, Germany, plants of the new Calibrachoa differed from plants of the cultivar Kakegawa S8 in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa were more upright than and not         as creeping as plants of the cultivar Kakegawa S8.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa had larger flowers than plants         of the cultivar Kakegawa S8.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Calibrachoa, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Calibrachoa.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘USCALI223-1’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a close-up of typical flowers of ‘USCALI223-1’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Bonsall, Calif., under commercial practice during the late spring in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse with day temperatures ranging from 18° C. to 32° C. and night temperatures ranging from 13° C. to 24° C. Rooted young plants were grown for about 16 weeks with one plant per one-gallon container. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa sp. cultivar USCALI223-1. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of             Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number CJ03-071, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of             Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number CJ03-087, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             weeks at temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             weeks at temperatures of 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Semi-upright to outwardly spreading,             mounding growth habit. Freely branching habit with about             four to five primary lateral branches each with multiple             secondary lateral branches; pinching is typically not             required. Vigorous growth habit and moderately rapid growth             rate.         -   Plant height.—About 18 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 35 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 23 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 2 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 2.5 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Initially upright to outwardly spreading.         -   Texture.—Pubescent.         -   Color.—144A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Before flowering, alternate, simple; after             flowering, opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 2.7 cm.         -   Width.—About 1.2 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptical.         -   Apex.—Broadly acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Minute pubescence;             slightly coarse.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing foliage, upper surface: 137A. Developing             foliage, lower surface: 137B. Fully expanded foliage, upper             surface: 147A; venation, 147B. Fully expanded foliage, lower             surface: 147B; venation, 147B.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 2.5 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Minute pubescence. Color,             upper surface: 146B. Color, lower surface: 147B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Salverform flowers arranged             singly arising from leaf axils. Freely flowering habit with             usually about 16 to 20 open flowers and flower buds per             lateral branch. Flowers persistent. Flowers face mostly             outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Calibrachoa             initiate and develop flowers about four weeks after             planting. Plants flower continuously from April to October             in Southern California.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about one week on             the plant.         -   Flower diameter.—About 3 cm by 3.2 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 3.2 cm.         -   Flower throat diameter.—About 8 mm by 10 mm.         -   Flower tube diameter.—About 3 mm.         -   Flower tube length.—About 2 cm.         -   Flower bud.—Shape: Elongated oblong. Length: About 2.2 cm.             Diameter: About 6 mm. Color: 147D; venation, 79A.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and             opening into a flared trumpet. Petal length from throat:             About 1.5 cm. Petal lobe width: About 1.6 cm. Petal shape:             Roughly obovate. Petal apex: Cordate. Petal margin: Entire.             Petal texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, velvety.             Throat texture: Smooth, velvety. Tube texture: Minute             pubescence. Color: Petal, when opening, upper surface:             Towards the margins, 69C; towards the throat, 75B; around             throat, 77A to 79B. Petal, when opening, lower surface: 69C;             venation, 79B. Petal, fully opened, upper surface: Towards             the margins, 75B; towards the throat, 75A; around throat,             77B to 78A; venation, 77A. Petal, fully opened, lower             surface: 76B; along veins 77B to 77C; venation, 79B. Throat:             76B tinted with 8B; venation, 79A to 79B. Tube: 78C; along             veins, 78B; venation, 79A.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement: One star-shaped calyx tube with five             sepals fused at the base per flower. Sepal length: About             1.2 cm. Sepal width: About 2.5 mm. Sepal shape: Narrowly             lanceolate. Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal             texture, upper and lower surfaces: Minute pubescence. Color,             upper surface: 137A. Color, lower surface: 137B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Angle: About 45° to 60° from stem axis. Strength: Strong.             Texture: Minute pubescence. Color: 146C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity/arrangement: Five per             flower. Anther shape: Ovoid. Anther length: About 1 mm.             Anther color: 3B. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: 3B.             Pistils Quantity: One per flower. Pistil length: About             1.2 cm. Style length: About 9 mm. Style color: 145B. Stigma             shape: Oval. Stigma color: 145A. Ovary color: 145B.             Seed/fruit: Seed and fruit development have not been             observed on plants of the new Calibrachoa. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been observed     to have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain and     temperatures ranging from about 1° C. to about 40° C. -   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not     been observed to be resistant to Thielaviopsis. Plants of the new     Calibrachoa have not been observed to be resistant to pests and     other pathogens common to Calibrachoa. 

1. A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named ‘USCALI223-1’ as illustrated and described. 